Bananas are the most important tropical fruit grown in Turkey and their production increases every other year. Antalya is the leading producer of bananas in the country.
In 2012, 63 thousand tons of bananas were grown in an area of 2 thousand hectares. In 2018, the total volume of production increased to 163 thousand tons and the land area increased to 3 thousand 200 hectares. In Antalya, greenhouse fields are also common for banana production. Farmers produced bananas in greenhouses of approximately 800 hectares, and this increased to 105 hectares in 2018.
Antalya has not only expanded the area of production but also uses high technology in agriculture which increases productivity. Mustafa Ozen, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry said that in the last few years there was an increased shift towards greenhouse production. He said that farmers opt for greenhouse production for increased productivity.
Ozen emphasized that although Gazipasa and Alanya are the leading districts for banana production, it is also becoming more widespread in Manavgat, Kepez and Aksu. Ozen added that Antalya offers the perfect climate for a variety of agricultural products.
Source: IHA